Music-leaf turner.



110.853,366. PATBNTED MAY 14, 1907.

T. 1.o GASTO. MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLIUATION FILED 1113.3. 190e.

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PATENTED MAY 14, 19o?.

T. Lo G AsTo. Music LEAP TURNER..

APPLICATIM FILED IAB. 3. 1906.

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PATBNTED MAY 14.1907.

. T. ,L0 GASTO. MUSIC LEAP TURNER. APPLIUATIQN lHmm Mu, 190e.

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MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed March 3, 1906. Serial No. 303,948.

To @ZZ 'wi/tom, t 'nto/,y concern.-

Be it known that I, TONY Lo CAsTO, a citiren of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Music-Leaf Turners, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. f

My invention relates to music leaf turners and its object is to provide more simplied and improved mechanism for devices of this kind. In devices of this kind now in use the pages are turned by spring power upon release of spring mechanism by escapement devices. Vhere the turning of the leaves depends upon the tension of a spring the operation is very unsatisfactory, and one of the main features of my invention resides in the positivemeans for turning the sheets, and this positive action may be accomplished by mechanical, electrical, pneumatic or other power, as desired.

My inventionv will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation view of the leaf turning mechanism; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an elevation view of a piano, diagrammatically showing the turning mechanism associated with a music rack or stand. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the rack taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, more clearly showing the arrangement of the leaves and turning wires. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 diagrammatically illustrates electrical solenoid mechanism which may be used to actuate the turning mechanism, and Fig. 7 shows pneumatic means which may be employed for actuating the turning mechanism.

The turning mechanism comprises a base or support 1 at one end of which is an upright 2 and at the`o ther end of which is an upright 3, these uprights being connected by the struts or rods 4 and 5. An actuating rod 5 passes through openings in the uprights between the struts 4 and 5. One end of therod terminates in an eye 6 and the other end 7 is threaded. and engaged by adjusting nuts 8 and 9, these adjusting nuts being disposed outside of the upright 2. Secured near the threaded end of the actuating rod and disposed between the uprightsis the supporting block 10 which is slidable on the rods 4 and 5. Between this block and the upright 3 is a spring 11 coiled about the rod 5 which. resists the longitudinal movement of the rod toward the right. A shelf or table 12 is carried on the block l() and on said table are the bearings 12 and 13 in which is journaled a shaft 14 extending transversely. At the front of the bearing 12 a pinion 15 is secured to the shaft 14, and in mesh 'with said pinion is a rack vbar 16 disposed in the guideway 17 extending from the table 12. Between the bearings 12 and 13 a ratchet wheel 18 is secured to a shaft 14 and the end of a lever 19 loosely engages the shaft between these bearings. On this lever 19 is pivoted the end 20 of the pawl 21 whose tooth 22 extends downwardly for engagement between the teeth of the pinion 18. The other end 23 of the pawl is weighted. An arm 24 extends from the supporting plate 1 and an upright member 25 extends from the end thereof. A lever or link 26 pivots at one end to the end of the lever 19 and at the other end is pivoted to the upright member 25.

At the front of the supporting plate 1 a tier of. actuating rack frames 27 is disposed, each rack frame having a longitudinal groove 28, and screws or rods 29 and 30 pass through the several grooves and are secured to the plate 1. Immediately before these actuating racks is a tier of pinions 31 arranged to mesh with the teeth of the respective rack bars, so that upon lateral displacement of a rack bar the engaging pinion will be rotated. From each pinion extends a rod or wire 32, the end 33 of each rod being turned u wardly for engagement behind one of t e leaves or sheets to be turned. Extending forwardly from the end of each rack bar is a stud or post 34 adapted for engagement with a latch or tongue 35 pivoted to the lower end of the rack bar 16.

In Figs. 3 and 4 is shown a music rack with which my turning device is associated, the rack comprising the base 36 and the upper wall 37 connected by the rods 38vand 39 andby strips or plates 40. The turning device is 4 disposed between the base 36 and the music supporting shelf 41, the music book 42 being placed on the rack, as shown, the outside leaves being clamped to the rack by means of the spring fingers 43 and 44. The leaves of the music book are normally disposed on the right, one of the wires of the turner being behind each of the leaves, and the o eration of the mechanism is as follows: W en it is IIO desired to turn a page the actuating rod 5 is pulled to the right until the nut 9 engages the upright 2, the block 10, and the mechanism supported thereby is carried with the rod 5, and the latch 35 upon beginning of such motion is in engagement with the stop or post 34 of the upper rack frame 27. This engaged rack frame is, consequently, carried toward the right and causes rotation of the engaged pinion 31 and swinging from right to left of the corresponding wire 33 which carries with it, and turns over, the leaf engaged thereby. The levers or links 19 and 26 are separated as the block 10 moves to the right, and the link 19 rotates about the shaft 14, carrying with it the pawl 21, whose tooth 22 leaves the normal position between the teeth of the pinion 15 and is carried to engage between other teeth of this pinion when the mechanism is in its extreme position to the right. The friction of the shaft in the'bearings and the rack 16 in its guideway f1s sufficient to hold the pinion 18 stationary and to let the pawl travel over the teeth thereof. Upon release of the rod 5 the spring 11 returns the block 10` and the associated mechanism to the normal position. During this return movement, however, the pawl 21 becomes effective and locks the pinion to the link 19. The pinion, therefore, rotates about the shaft with the link 19 and causes downward movement of the rack bar 16, the adjustment being such that the downward movement of the rack bar after each return of the bar 5 will be sufiicient to carry the latch 35 into position before the post 34 of the next rack frame 27. The latch 35 is locked in vertical position during forward stroke of the mechanism, but during return stroke, owing to its pivoted connection, it will swing and travel over the post 34 of the rack bars and the turned over wires will remain in their position to the left. By means of the mutual lockin nuts 8 and 9 the stroke of the rod 5 can be ajusted so that the link, pinion and rack mechanism will move in proper proportion to give the prop er movement to the rack bar 16. A handle or thumb piece 45 is secured to the end of the shaft 14, and after all these sheets have been turned the player by releasing the pawl from the pinion 18 may rotate this pinion to carry the rack to its normal upper position, and after the turned wires have been restored to their normal positions to the right, the mechanism is in position for subsequent operations. The top of the guideway 17 may have an extension 46 disposed over the pawl of the rack bar 16 to determine the uppermost or starting position of this rack bar.

Various means may be employed for causing longitudinal motion of the rod 5. In Fig. 3 arrangements are made to pull this rod upon actuation of the players knee against one end of a lever 47 pivoted at an inesas ce termediary point 48 and having its other end connected with a cord 49 which may lead about pulleys 5() and connected at its otherend with a hook 51 for engaging in the eye 6. When it is desired to have a page turned, the player moves his knee against the lever causing the rod 5 to be pulled toward the right. In F ig. 6 electrical means are shown which may be employed for actuating the rod. rI`he rod in this case will terminate in a core 5l which is drawn into the solenoid Winding 52 upon closure of the button or key 53 to connect this winding in circuit with a source of current 54. With this arrangement, to turn a leaf, pressure upon the button 53 by the foot, for instance, will cause closure of the energizing circuit whereby the core is drawn within the winding and the rod pulled.' toward the right.

In Fig. 7 pneumatic means are shown whichmight be utilized for actuating the rod, and in this case the rod is connected to a piston or plunger 55 disposed within a cylinder 56 which connects through a hose or other conductor 57 with a bulb 58 or with some source of compressed air. To turn a leaf the operator causes compression of the bulb by stepping thereon, for instance, and causes the plunger 55 to be driven to the right to carry with it the bar 5. In organs or other musical instruments driven by air under pressure, the cylinder could be connected with the source of compressed air and a valve actuated to control the iiow of air to the cylinder.

The turning mechanism may b'e very readily applied to a music stand or mounted directlyV on any form of instrument, besides pianos, as here shown. Changes in its detailed construction might also readily be made without departing from the scope of my invention and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the adaptation or construction and arrangement shown, but

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

` 1. In a music leaf turner, the combination of a tier of pinions, a frame connected with each pinion and associated with one of the sheets to be turned, a tier of rack bars, each adapted to mesh with one of said pinions, an actuating member normally in position to engage with the first of said rack bars, means for causing horizontal movement of the actuating member to move the engaged rack bar and thereby to cause the engaged frame to be turned, and gearing mechanism engaging said actuating member and automatically actuated to move the member vertically into position to engage the next rack bar after actuation of the preceding rack bar whereby said rack bars are successively engaged and actuated to turnl the sheet engaging frames.

2. In a music leaf turner, the combination of a tier of pinicns, a frame connected with IOO IIO

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each pinion and associated with one ofthe sheets to be turned, a tier of rack bars, each adapted to mesh with one of said pinions7 an actuating bar normally in position to engage with the iirst of said rack bars, means for causing horizontal movement of the actuating bar to move the engaged rack bar and thereby to cause the engaged frame to be turned, a pinion engaging said actuating bar, and means for automatically causing rotation of said pinion to lower the bar into position to engage the next rack bar after actuation thereby of the preceding rack bar.

3. In a musicleaf turner, the combination of a tier of pinions, a frame connected with each pinion and associated with one of the leaves to be turned, a tier of rack bars, each adapted to mesh with. one of said pinions, an actuating bar normally in position to engage one of the rack bars, a pinion engaging said bar, means for causing bodily movement of the bar and pinion whereby the engaged rack bar is actuated to `turn the corresponding frame, and means upon return movement for causing relative motion between the pinion and bar whereby the bar is lowered to be in position to engage the next rack bar, said rack bars being thereby successively engaged and actuated by the bar to turn the frames and sheets.

4. In a music leaf turner, the combination of a tier of pinions, a frame connected with each pinion and associated with one of vthe leaves to be turned, a tier of rack bars, each adapted to mesh with one of said pinions, an actuating gear rack normally in position to engage one of the rack bars, a pinion engaging said rack frame7 a support for said gear rack and pinion, means for causing movement of said support whereby the engaged rack is moved to cause turning of the associated frame, and means upon each return movement of the supporting frame for causing the pinion to be automatically moved to lower the gear rack into position to engage the next rack bar whereby said rack bars'are successively engaged and moved to cause the frames to be successively turned.

5. In a music leaf turner, the combination of a main supporting frame, of a tier of pinions mounted thereon, a frame connected with each pinion and for engagement with the leaves to be turned, a tier of rack bars mounted on said main supporting frame, each adapted to mesh with one of said pinions, an actuating bar normally in position to engage one of said rack bars, a pinion meshing with teeth on said bar, a supporting frame for said pinion and bar, means for causing movement of said pinion su porting frame whereby the engaged rack lsar is moved to cause the corresponding frame to be turned, and pawl and ratchet mechanism associated with said pinion and adapted to cause rotation thereof during each return movement of the pinion supporting frame to cause said actuating bar to be moved to a position for engaging the next rack bar whereby said rack bars are successively engaged and actuated to cause successive turning of the frames.

6. In a music leaf turner, the combination of a main supporting frame, of a tier of pinions, avframe extending from each pinion and connected with a leaf to be turned, a tier of rack bars, each adapted to mesh with one of said pinions, an actuating bar normally disposed for engagement with one of said rack bars, a pinion meshing with teeth on said bar, a shaft for said pinion, a support for said pinion shaft and Vactuating bar, a link ivoted at one end to the main supporting igrame, a second link pivoted at one-endto the pinion shaft, the other ends of said links being pivoted together, a pawl pivoted to said second link and associated with said pinion, means for causing. said supporting frame to move to cause the rackbar engaged by the actuating bar to be moved to turn the engaged`pinion'and corresponding leaf frame, and means operable upon each return of the supporting frame for causing said link and pawl mechanism to rotate the pinion whereby the actuating bar engaged thereby is moved into ranother position to engage the succeeding rack bar whereby said rack bars are successively engaged and moved by the actuating bar to operate the sheet turning frames.

7. In a music leaf turner, the combination ofa tier of pinions, a frame connected with each pinion and associated with a leaf to be turned, a tier of rack bars, each adapted to mesh with one of said pinions, a main sup porting frame on ywhich said pinions and rack ars are mounted, a supporting table, a shaft supported in bearings on said table, a pinion secured to said shaft, a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, an actuating'- rack bar engaged by said pinion and normally disposed to engage only one of said rack bars, a pawl engaging said ratchet wheel, lever mechanism connected with said pawl and with the main supporting frame, means for causing said TOO supporting table to be moved whereby the engaged actuatingV bar is moved to turn the engaged sheet turning frame, said lever mechanism upon movement of the supporting table being caused to engage between otlierteeth of the ratchet wheel, means for restoring the supporting table to its normal position, said pawl being moved upon such xrestoring motion to turn the pinion whereby the actuating rack is lowered to be in position for engaging the next actuating bar upon subsequent lateral forward movement of the supporting table.

8. In a music leaf turner, the combination of a vertical tier of pinions, a frame connected with each pinion and associated with one of the leaves to be turned, a vertical tier of tuating rack bar insaid guideway in mesh with "saidpinion, the end of said actuating r'ack bar being normally disposed to engage the first of said rack bars, means for moving said table to cause the engaged rack bar to be moved to rotate the corresponding leaf engaging frame, said actuating rack bar and pinion being prevented from relative movement upon movement of the table, and means for automatically causing relative movement between said actuating rack bar and pinion upon each return of the table after actuation thereof whereby said actuating rack bar is rlowered after each movement of the table to engage the nextrack bar whereby the rack bars are successively engaged and actuated by the actuating rack bar to cause the turning frames to be successively operated.

9. In a music leaf turner, the combination with a tier of rack bars, of a plurality of sheet turning frames, each frame having teeth for being engaged by one of said rack bars, an actuating bar adapted for vertical move :lnent and horizontal reciprocation, said actuating bar during the `operating movement of its reciprocation engaging one of said rack bars to turn the engaged frame, said actuat-` ing bar moving vertically during the return movement thereof to move into position for engagement with the next rack bar whereby said. rack bars are successively engaged and actuated by the actuating bar to cause the successive leaves to be turned by the frame.

y 10. In a music leaf turner, the combination with a tier of rack bars, of a plurality of sheet turning frames,` each frame having teeth for being engaged by one of said. rack bars, a supporting table, means for causing movement of the supporting table in a direction parallel to the rack bars7 a pinion pivoted on said table, a vertical gear rack meshing with said pinion and normally disposed with its lower end before the end of one of the rack bars, whereupon movement of the table will cause lateral movement of the rack bar and turning of the music leaf frame engaged thereby, and means for causing rotation of the pinion during the return movement of the table during which time the gear rack is moved downwardly to carry its end into pon si tion before the end of the next gear rack.

l1. In a music leaf turner, the combina tion with a tier of rack bars, -oi` a plurality of sheet turning frames, each frame having teeth for being engaged by one of said rack bars to be turned upon movement of said rack bar, an actuating member normally in. engagement with the end of the upper rack bar, means for moving said actuating member in a direction parallel to the rack bars to cause the engaged rack bar to be moved to the right to thereby cause turning of the frame engaged thereby, `means for returning the actuating bar toward its normal position, and means operative during this returning period for causing the actuating bar to also move downwardly to assume a position at the end of the next rack bar. 1

12. In a music leaf turner, the4 combination with aV suitable supporting frame, of a tier of rack bars supporting thereon, a tier ofl pinions each meshing with one of said rack bars, a frame extending from each pinion for engaging one of the leaves to be turned, guide rods mounted over the rack bars and parallel thereto, a table mounted on said guide rods and normally disposed at one end thereof, a gear rack mounted on said table adapted to move vertically, a pinion pivoted on said table and meshing with said gear rack, the lower end of the gear rack being normally in position before the end of the upper rack bar,

means for causing the table tov be moved to- 4 ward the other end of the guide bars during which movement the upper rack bar 1s moved Vwith the gear rack to turn the corresponding pinion and leaf turning frame, means for causing rotation of the pinion on said table during the return movement thereof whereupon the gear rack is lowered so that its lower end becomes disposed before the end of the next gear rack.

13. In a music leaf turner, the combination with a plurality of rack bars arranged in a tier, of a plurality of pinions each meshing with one of the rack bars, a frame extending from each pinion for engagement with a leaf to be turned, a supporting table, a ear rack supported on said table and adapted for ver tical movement, the lower end of said gear rack being normally disposed before the end of the upper rack bar, a pinion pivoted on said table and meshing with said gear rack, pawl and ratchet mechanism associated with said pinion, means for moving said table over and parallel to the rack bars whereby the IIC racl bar engaged by the gear rack is moved IZO 

